AdWords Location Extensions

05 Feb 2011
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words

This week, Google launched its newest update to location extensions. When location extensions originally launched, Google Places were not nearly as integrated into the search engine results page (SERP). The SERPs have evolved to include individual Google Places listings with reviews and ratings from some of Google's other recent product launches such as Hotpot.

The new way Google displays Places listings in the SERPs made the old version of location extensions seem old and outdated. Google is committed to local, and this update for location extensions was much needed. AdWords location extension addresses are now marked with a blue pin on the same map other Google Places listings appear. Before, a plus box was used to display this ad format, but now the address appears by default when other Google Places listings appear in the top 10 results.

Not only do the blue pins add extra focus to the paid listings in the search engine results, but they also draw more attention to paid listings on the map. With the original location extensions, having the extensions enabled helped improve the CTR of your ads. The new location extensions to be interacted with much more often, and more users will start to use the get directions feature.

Google has launched several new formatting changes for AdWords ads in the past couple of weeks. The domain is now being shown lowercase only, ad titles are being extended with the description line one, and now location extensions have been updated. The more changes they make, the more paid search ads at the top of the page are starting to look like organic or natural results.

With all these new features, it is becoming more and more important to get your ads displayed at the top of the SERPs and not on the right sidebar. Increased competition for these top three postions could promote more competition to rank higher, and lead to increased CPCs. Advertising on AdWords is not going to get any cheaper in the coming months. It's now even more important to improve your quality score and get the maximum discount on your CPCs.